How do volcano eruptions on the ocean floor effect the weather on land?
Quartzgal
Dear Quartzgal,
That is an interesting question. The answer for most undersea eruptions
is that they don't affect the weather at all, except perhaps in the
immediate vicinity of the volcano. However, there is presently a
controversy regarding undersea volcanic activity and El Nino. You may
know that El Nino is a climatic phenomena that has to do with large
changes in ocean water temperatures, current directions, and wind
directions. Dr. Dan Walker of the University of Hawai'i suggested a few
years ago that perhaps large eruptions along the East Pacific Rise might
be sufficient to change the water temperatue of the Eastern Pacific Ocean
and get the ball rolling to initiate an El Nino. He didn't just think
that up - he had earthquake evidence that correlated swarms of earthquakes
recorded along the East Pacific Rise with El Nino years. A lot of people
don't like the idea but they haven't been able to 100% disprove it either.
Scott Rowland, University of Hawaii
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